Changes to Standards

Bulletin 12-9

June 11, 2012

The Board of Governors recently acted on recommendations from the Standards Committee and approved changes to the 13th edition (2012) of AATB's Standards for Tissue Banking (Standards). The following bullets outline the rationale for each change made and links are provided to printable inserts for your Standards book that show changes to the text. All three standards reflect common practice and are effective immediately.

E1.010 Receipt of Tissue at Processing Center (within E1.000 PROCESSING, PRESERVATION, QUARANTINE, AND STORAGE - GENERAL) - This standard was described as applicable only to the following tissue types: C, V, MS, OA, and S. However, the steps regarding this function are applicable to all other tissue types as well: LD, R, A, SB, and DM. It is now a general standard applicable to all tissue types. For clarity, expectations for this function are now in a list versus appearing within a paragraph, and the title was adjusted to include 'storage' as well as 'receipt.' Additionally, one requirement was added to the list. The printable update can be accessed at this link: E1.010

E4.120 Frozen and Cryopreserved Tissue (within E4.100 Storage Temperatures) - the Reproductive Council recommended changing this standard to reflect common, current practice regarding liquid nitrogen storage. Since the practice of monitoring liquid nitrogen levels and temperature are routine and covered in standard E4.140 Monitoring Storage Temperatures, the text regarding validation of the storage method has been removed. The printable update can be accessed at this link: E4.120

G3.310 Domestic Shipments (within G3.300 Transport Package Label Content) - the Reproductive Council reports that, for client and patient safety reasons, labeling the transport package as containing 'human tissue' is an issue of privacy and not considered good practice. New text has been added to exempt reproductive tissue from this labeling. If reproductive tissue is sent to another country and requirements differ, this is covered by standard G3.320 International Shipments. The printable update can be accessed at this link: G3.310